狐假虎威
狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi) literally means “fox uses tiger's power” and expresses “borrow authority to intimidate”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: hu jia hu wei, hu jia hu wei,狐假虎威 meaning, 狐假虎威 in english
Borrow authority to intimidate
Pronunciation: hú jiǎ hǔ wēi
Literal meaning: Fox uses tiger's power
Origin & Usage
This idiom emerged from a Warring States period fable where a fox (狐) borrowed (假) the authority (威) of a tiger (虎) to intimidate other animals. The story first appeared in the Zhan Guo Ce, using the clever fox and powerful tiger to criticize political parasites who derived their influence from powerful patrons. During the Ming Dynasty, it became a pointed critique of corrupt officials who abused borrowed authority. Contemporary usage describes anyone who intimidates others by flaunting connections to powerful figures.
Examples
English: "The junior manager kept dropping the CEO's name to get his way"
Chinese: 这个初级经理总是搬出CEO的名字来达到目的
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
不远千里
bù yuǎn qiān lǐ
Willingly travel far; make great efforts
Learn more →
朝思暮想
zhāo sī mù xiǎng
Think about constantly; yearn for
Learn more →
魂牵梦萦
hún qiān mèng yíng
Yearn day and night
Learn more →
恋恋不舍
liàn liàn bù shě
Be deeply reluctant to leave
Learn more →
依依不舍
yī yī bù shě
Be reluctant to part
Learn more →
难分难舍
nán fēn nán shě
Be inseparable; hate to part
Learn more →
海枯石烂
hǎi kū shí làn
Until the end of time; eternal love
Learn more →
一见钟情
yī jiàn zhōng qíng
Love at first sight
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 狐假虎威 mean in English?
狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi) literally translates to “Fox uses tiger's power” and is used to express “Borrow authority to intimidate”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 狐假虎威 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving borrow authority to intimidate.
What is the pinyin for 狐假虎威?
The pinyin pronunciation for 狐假虎威 is “hú jiǎ hǔ wēi”.